Electromagnetically oscillated knife



May 31, 1960 H. G. NlssEN ELECTROMAGNETICALLY OSCILLATED KNIFE Filed Nov. 16, 1954 United States Patent() YELECTROMAGNETICALLY OSCILLATED KNIFE Hans G. Nissen, 71 Washington Square S., New York, N.Y.

Filed Nov. 16, 1954, Ser. No. 469,102

9 Claims. (Cl. 30-272) The present invention relates to a knife, more particularly to a carving knife having an electromagnetically oscillated blade.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel and improved knife of the general kind above referred to, the blade of which when in operation performs very rapid and powerful axial oscillations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved knife, the electromagnetic oscillating mechanism of which is arranged to exert an axial pull upon the blade in both directions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved knife, the electromagnetic oscillating mechanism of which can be conveniently connected or disconnected at the knife proper thereby facilitating manipulation of the knife when used for carving, slicing and general purposes for cutting.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved knife, the oscillatory blade of which can be locked for instance, for purpose of conveniently sharpening and/or cleaning the knife. A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved knife, the oscillating mechanism and locking means of which cooperate so that the oscillating mechanism cannot be connected when the knife blade is locked.

Another object of the invention, allied with the preceding ones, is to provide adjustable guide means which permits the knife to be readily set for carving slices of selected thickness.

Still another object of the invention, also allied with the preceding ones, is to provide support means which reinforce the blade against cutting or carving pressure.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims forming part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing: A

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an electromagnetically oscillated knife according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the knife.

Fig. 3 is an elevational section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the handle of the knife and the oscillating mechanism housed therein on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig.' 6 is an enlarged detail view of the slice adjustment means of the knife.

Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram of the oscillating mechanism of the knife, and

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

i Referring now'to the figures in detail, the illustrated electromagnetically' oscillated knifev according to the ini 2,938,269 Patented May 31, 1960 ICC vention comprises a hollow handle 10 which houses the electromagnetic oscillating mechanism generally designated by 11 and a knife blade 12 secured to the mechanism for axial oscillation thereby. The oscillating mechanism comprises two solenoids each including an exciting coil 13 and 14 respectively and an axially movable core in form of a plunger 15 and 16 respectively. The two solenoids are disposed in longitudinally spaced relationship within a sleeve 17 which is, in turn, supported within the handle 10. l

As shown in the circuit diagram of Fig. 7, the inner ends of the two coils are both connected, preferably through a variable resistor 18, to one terminal of a source of current 19 which may be the line current. The second Yterminal of the source of current is connected through a switch 20 biased into the open position to springy contacts 21 and 22 respectively of two pairs of switch contacts 23 and 24. The other contacts 25 and 26 of the two contact pairs are connected to the outer ends of coils 13 and 14. The two contacts of each pair are biased into the open position and controlled by a nose or iinger 27 movable in unison with the plunger assembly and knife blade 12.

Contacts 20 constitute a main switch which when open disconnects the entire oscillating mechanism. Contacts 21, 25 when closed as shown, close an energizing circuit for coil 14 which accordingly attracts the plunger assembly and blade 12 towards the right. Similarly, closing of contacts 22 and 26 closes an energizing circuit for coil 13 attracting the plunger assembly and blade 12 toward the left. In other words, alternate energization of the two coils will set up reciprocatory movements of the blade. The strength of the current how and hence the strength of the magnetic fields of the coils can be conveniently regulated by means of resistor 18.-

Referring to Fig. 4, this figure shows that control nose or linger 27 extends from a block of insulation material 30 fitted in the outer end of plunger 15. Block 30 is slotted at 31 for engagement by a pin 32 inserted in the handle wall to guide the plunger assembly and to limit the' axial movements thereof to protect contacts 21, 22 and 25, 26. The block may be secured to plunger 15 by any suitable means. There is shown a tongue 30 fitted in a correspondingV recess in plunger 1 5 and secured therein by a rivet 33. The blade is secured to the plunger assembly, or more specifically to the outer end of plunger 16 by a blade holder 35, a tongue 35 of which engages a corresponding recess in plunger 16 and is secured therein by a rivet 36 or other suitable means. The blade is fastened in the blade holder preferably by releasable means such as screws 37 to permit a convenient replacement of the blade. The inner ends of the two plungers are mechanically secured to each other but magnetically separated by an insulation member 40 suitably secured in the plungers for instance, by rivets 41 and 42. A light spring 43 may be provided between the rear wall of the handle and the inner face of the plunger assembly to hold the knife blade at rest and in a definite position when the knife is not in use.

Main switch 20 is controlled by an operating pin 45 slidably extending through the handle wall and biased by a spring 46 into a positionin which the switch contacts are disengaged. The pin 45 and -with it switch contacts 20 are actuated by means of an arm or grip 47 hinged to the knife handle at 48. As is apparent, pressure exerted upon arm 47 toward the knife handle will force pin 45 into a position closing contacts 20 whereby the solenoids of the oscillating mechanism are connected to the line current. l

The oscillating mechanism further comprises a locking means for holding stationarily the plunger assembly -and with it the blade to facilitate cleaning and sharpening .the knife. These locking means are shown as comprislng a locking pin 50 slidably fitted in the handle wall and engageable with an indentation 51 in a suitable part of the plunger assembly such as insulation body 30. Pin 50 is biased by a spring 52 into a position disengaged from indentation 51. i

Locking pin 50 is actuated by arm 47, or more specifically by a knob 53 slidably seated on arm 47.

To prevent closing of switch contacts 20 when the knife blade is locked by pin 50, the length and position of pins 45, 50 and of arm 47 are so correlated that when knob 53 is slid out of alignment with pin 50, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and arm 47 has engaged pin 45 for closing switch contacts 20, arm 47 cannot engage pin 50 for pushing the same into its locking position. On the other hand, when knob 53 is slid into its position coacting with pin 50, this pin will reach its locking position thereby arresting any further pivotal movement of arm 47 before the arm can engage and displace pin 45.

The blade guide means of the knife comprise a guide bar or blade 60 which is disposed parallel to the blade and mounted longitudinally pivotal about a rod 61. This rod fixedly seats a small knurled disc o1' knob 62 mounted on the forward end of the handle as can best be seen in Figs. l and 2. The grooves in the rim of the knob 62 are engaged by a locking plate 63 which has a slightly elongated slot 64 to permit longitudinal displacement of the plate into and out of engagement with the peripheral grooves of knob 62. A preferably also knurled locking nut 65 threaded upon a screw 66 extending through hole 64 into the handle serves to tighten plate 63 in engagement with a groove of knob 62.

As can best be seen in Fig. 6, the lower edge of guide blade 60 is situated near the cutting edge of blade 12. By varying the angular position of blade 60 and tightening the blade in the selected position by means of plate 63 and nut 65, blade 60 can be set for any desired spacing relative to knife blade 12 thereby controlling the thickness of slices of for instance, meat to be carved with the knife.

The knife as illustrated, finally comprises a blade support means. This means is shown as a support bar 70 fixedly or removably secured to handle 10. The bar extends parallel to the back edge of blade 12 in close proximity thereto and preferably ends in an enlargement 70 abutting against the rear edge of the blade thereby reinforcing the blade against the cutting pressure without impeding the axial oscillations of the blade.

The function of the knife as hereinbefore described is as follows:

Let it be assumed that the plunger assembly and the knife blade are in the positions shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7, that is, main switch contacts 20 are open an d oscillating contacts 21, 25 are closed. When the operator now grips the handley and arm 47 and squeezes the latter slightly toward the handle, switch contacts are closed by the action of operating pin 45. As a result, coil 14 is energized and pulls the plunger assembly and with it the knife blade toward the right, the plunger assembly being magnetically unbalanced in the illustrated position. Due to the displacement of the plunger assembly toward the right, nose or finger 27 becomes disengaged from contact 21 so that contacts 21 and 25 break and engages contact 22 so that contacts 22 and 26 close. Accordingly, coil 14 is de-energized and coil 13 becomes energized whereby the plunger assembly and with it the blade are pulled towards the left. As is apparent, this cycle is repeated in rapid succession until the operator releases or loosens his grip on arm 47 whereby main switch contacts 20 are opened and the oscillating mechanism is disconnected.

In the event the operator desires to lock the blade, he slides knob 53 into the position in which it faces lockingv pin 50 and presses arm 47 and with it knob 53 against the locking pin so that the pin enters indentation 51 thereby locking knife blade 12. The plunger assembly may either be manipulated into the position in which indentation 51 is in alignment with pin 50 or spring 43 may be so adjusted that it pulls the plunger assembly into the said position when the oscillating mechanism is disconnected.

The handle of the knife of this invention may be set in an appropriate holder or clamp so that the knife is pivotally mounted. In that Way the oscillating blade may be used to cut or carve slices from a piece, as for example a loaf of bread, that is advanced after a slice is severed.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an electromagnetically oscillated knife of the class wherein the blade is secured so as to be axially movable in a hollow handle housing, an electromagnetic oscillating mechanism for the blade, said electromagnetic oscillating mechanism comprising two longitudinally spaced solenoid means each including an exciting coil and a plunger core, the said plungers being mechanically secured to each other and the blade for joint reciprocatory movement but magnetically separated, an energizing circuit means for each of said coils, said circuit means being connected for causing attraction of the plungers in opposite directions, a switch means biased into an open position included in each of said energizing circuit means, switch control means actuated by reciprocatory blade movements for alternately closing said switch means thereby alternately energizing the solenoid means to impart oscillations to the knife blade, and a main switch means included in both said energizing circuit means for controlling the energization of said oscillating mechanism and further comprising releasable locking means for locking the blade in a fixed axial position, the said main switch means and the said locking means being selectively operable.

2. A knife according to claim 1, wherein said two switch means and said switch control means coacting' therewith comprise respectively two pairs of switch contacts mounted within the handle in longitudinally spaced relationship and an actuating member attached to the plunger assembly for movement in unison therewith and protruding between said two pairs of switch contacts for alternately closing the switch contacts of the said two pairs whereby said solenoid means are alternately energized to effect said blade oscillations.

3. A knife according to claim 1, wherein said main switch means comprise a pair of switch contacts biased into a disengaged position, an operating pin slidably fitted in the wall of said handle for coaction with said switch contacts, and an actuating arm on the handle pivotally engageable with said pin for moving the latter into a position closing said switch contacts.

4. A knife according to claim 3, wherein the said locking means are operable by pivoting said actuating arm relative to the handle.

S. A knife according to claim 4, wherein the said locking means comprise a locking pin slidably fitted in vthe wall of said handle and engageable with an indentation in said plunger assembly when in a locking position, and an actuating member seated upon said arm and slidably engageable with said locking pin for moving the latter into its locking position by pivoting said arm toward the handle.

6. A knife according to claim 5, wherein the said actuating member is slidable upon said arm between a lock,v

ing position in which said member is coacting with said locking pin and a release position in which said member is noncoacting with said locking pin.

7. A knife according to claim 1 and further comprising adjustable knife guide means, said guide means including a guide blade disposed adjacent to the cutting edge of the knife blade in parallel relationship therewith and setting means for fixing the guide blade at a selected spacing from said cutting edge.

8. A knife according to claim 7, wherein the said setting means comprise mounting means pivotally supporting said guide blade and locking means for locking the guide blade in a selected angular position relative to the knife blade.

9. A knife according to claim 1 and further compris- 6 ing a plate and a support bar secured to the handle and extending therefrom parallel to the back edge of the knife blade at least partly in abutment therewith for reinforcing the knife blade against cutting pressure.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 998,564 Bonsall July 18, 1911 1,120,414 Schooleld et al. Dec. 8, 1914 1,978,442 Taylor Oct. 30, 1934 2,180,244 Kasterman Nov. 14, 1939 2,422,221 Candlaud June 17, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 633,678 France Oct. 29, 1927 

